Old Patesians vs Chippenham

Old Patesians – 76
Chippenham– 7

Referee – Richard Bennett

Old Patesians were in no mood to take any prisoners on a sunny day at Everest Road and comprehensively crushed Chippenham in an 11 try rout in their National 3 South West match. At the kick-off Pats shared top of the table with Taunton who had a marginally better record on points scored for/against but this victory against the Wiltshire side was very impressive.

Due to unavailability through injury and other commitments Pats had to ring in the changes again with Mike Bond replacing James King in the front row and youngster James Hayden making his debut on the wing. Chippenham are a good side, with two wins and a draw on their campaign to date and their big burley forwards with a sprinkling of South African in their ranks, looked a very competitive outfit in the opening exchanges.

Pats started up the slope and absorbed early pressure before driving their opponents into the top right corner. The un-ceremonially shoved Chippenham off their own scrum an scum-half Darren Moore claimed the push over try converted by skipper Adam Seager. This proved to be the opening of the floodgates, with Pats dominating the scrum, line-out and the loose.

Player coach Rob Fidler restored to the second row from injury combined with fellow jumpers Gethin Evans and James Baker to steal the ball at will from their floundering opposite numbers and the Pats three-quarters feasted with delight on the quality possession. Fly-half Seager in scintillating from with his forwards control, and masterminded the game plan with ample time to execute his many options. His touch kicks were radar straight and his timely distribution was class.

Tries came at regular intervals from Ben Parker, Baker, Matt Hurdle and Brett Harvey. Seager was impeccable with the boot, with a kicking master class. Converting everything including two breath taking kicks from the touchline. Pats had also reached their first objective, gaining the vital try bonus point. Chippenham eventually found some rhythm, late in the second quarter and their hard working centre Karl Brant pierced the defence for a try converted by fly-half Dominic Riccio.

Pats closed the half with a Seager penalty goal and led by 38 to 7 at the break.

After the interval pats swarmed down the hill and Moore scored his second try from another pushover, converted by Seager. Chippenham were hurt, demoralized, but defiant and for a ten minute period they held the Pats at bay with some aggressive counters but this was not to be their day, and Pats put them to the sword.

Pats cranked up the gears and flung the ball about with cavalier abandon creating massive gaps in the lack-luster defence. They were rewarded with tries from Stu Taylor, a second for Harvey and a debut hat-trick from James Hayden. Seager added the conversions to take his personal points tally to 21 from the boot in an almost faultless display.

This was a romp in the park for the Pats who had won in magnificent style with a touch of swagger but tougher tests lay in the road ahead starting with a fourth placed Chinnor next week.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – Michael Bond